Investigation into Judge kidnapping continues

GARDAÍ are focusing on a well-known smuggling gang as part of their investigation into the kidnapping of Kildare mother-of-three Helen Judge.

Detectives are understood to have placed well-known cigarette and alcohol smugglers high on their suspect list of possible kidnappers.

Gardaí will also investigate allegations that her estranged husband Liam Judge, aged 48, may have been targeted by drug traffickers.

There have been claims that Judge, who ran off to Spain with the daughter of convicted drugs baron John Gilligan, fell out with a major drugs gang based in north Dublin.

This gang is connected to Dutch-based Irish trafficker Georgie Mitchell, also known as the Penguin.

Claims have been made that one of the leading figures in the gang, from Baldoyle, north Dublin, may have

ordered the kidnapping. But yesterday, garda sources said Judge was not suspected of being

involved with drug trafficking. Gardaí described Judge as a businessman involved in trucking and international haulage, who may have come in contact with cigarette and alcohol smugglers, although he has no convictions for this either.

Cigarette and alcohol smuggling is a massive illegal business in Ireland, north and south, with paramilitary

organisations heavily involved either directly or indirectly through criminal gangs.

Sources said the Penguin has also been involved in cigarette smuggling, and it may be through this area, rather than drug smuggling, that the link is being made to Liam Judge.

Judge ran away with Tracy Gilligan after his marriage with Helen Judge broke up.

Sources pointed out Judge did not get to know Tracy, aged 28, through any involvement in Gilligan’s lucrative drug trafficking empire.

Rather he knew the Gilligans through other business activity and

became friendly with John Gilligan’s wife, Geraldine.

Judge is thought to have gone into hiding when he heard his former wife had been kidnapped from her home in Allenwood, Co Kildare.

Mrs Judge was found last Wednesday in the Colley Mountains in Co Louth.

Reports claim she was released by the kidnappers after threats from the Gilligan gang.

The kidnap investigation is being led by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Kildare gardaí under the co-ordination of Asst Commissioner Joe Egan, who heads the National Support Services. This includes the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Garda

National Drugs Unit and the Bureau of Fraud Investigation and other units.

Gardaí have yet to interview Helen Judge, who they stress is a completely innocent party, as she is still receiving care at a Co Louth hospital.